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Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter No 162 2014 September

Brief rigging guide at the pin top); and spread (3) in rowing is measured
This is a simple brief rigging guide, which may from the centreline of the boat to the pin centre. Over-
help to establish a systematic approach and understand laps (4) could be measured directly, or calculated:
better biomechanical implications of rigging variables. Overlap (Sculling) = Inboard * 2 - Span + 4
The most important adjustable rigging variables are Overlap (Sweep) = Inboard Spread + 2
defined below: 12 in sculling and 11 in rowing. Typi- The gate height (5) is measured from the bottom of
cal numbers are given for a common equipment, but its working face to the seat. Usually it is taken to the
could be very different, e.g. for Fat2 blade type. gunnel first, then the height from the seat to the gunnel
Oar settings is added or subtracted. In sculling, the difference be-
2. Inboard 1. Oar Length Fig.1 tween star and port gate heights (6) is recorded sepa-
rately. The heels depth (7) is measured from the seat to
Actual Inboard Pin Actual Outboard the bottom corner inside the shoe. Line of pins inside
Handle center (6cm from the top Blade
in sculling, 15cm in sweep) enter the boat should be marked and used as a reference to
Oar length (1) is measured from the handle top to the measure the stretcher position (8), to the shoes toes,
outer edge of the blade at the axis of the shaft; inboard (2) - and work through (9), to the stern end of the seat.
from the handle top to the outer face of the button. Oar Blade pitch (10) can be measured either directly
gearing is defined as a ratio of actual outboard to actual in- with the oar sleeve fixed at the gate and blade shaft in
board both measured from the pin to the centres of the blade horizontal position; or the pitch can be measured be-
and handle, where the resultant forces are applied. The typi- tween the sleeve and blade, then it is summed up with
cal oar rigging numbers: the gate pitch. The pitch is easier to measure with a
Variable (cm) 1x 2x 4x 2- 4- 8+ special electronic pitch-meter applied to the blade or
1. Oar Length 287 288 289 372 374 375 working face of the gate, when the boat is levelled.
2. Inboard 88 88 88 116 115 114 Lateral pitch (11) outwards is measured at the pin or at
Biomechanical implications the back of the gate, when it is perpendicular to the
Shorter Longer levelled boat. The stretcher angle (12) is measured
1. Oar Lighter gearing: Heavier gearing: low- from the horizontal axis of the boat.
Length higher handle speed er handle speed at Biomechanical implications of boat settings:
at lower force higher force Variable Range At lower val- At higher
2. In- Heavier gearing, Lighter gearing, short- ues values
board longer oar angles er oar angles 3. Span Sculling 158- Longer angles, Shorter angles,
160 heavier gearing lighter gearing
Boat settings
Spread Sweep 84-86 Same Same
3. Span (sculling) Fig.2 4. Overlap 19-21 Longer catch, Longer finish,
4. Overlap (sculling) longer stretcher requires short-
4. Overlap (Sweep) Sculling cm
3. Spread (sweep) position er stretcher
11. Lateral pitch position
-- Sweep 30-32 Same Same
6. Difference of Gate 5. Gate Height 14-18 Shorter length, Longer length,
Heights (Sculling) higher force less force
cm
6. Difference of 1-2 cm Even handles Uneven han-
5. Gate Height
7. Heels Depth Gate Heights in heights, more dles height,
sculling boat roll less boat roll
7. Heels Depth 15-19 Same as 5 Same as 5
Centerline
cm
8. Stretcher position 8.Stretcher posi- 55-65 Shorter catch Longer catch
Gate Pitch tion cm lighter gearing heavier gear-
ing
9. Work through 14-20 Same Same
5. Gate Height
cm
10. Blade Pitch 4-8 deg Deeper blade, Shallower
12. Stretcher requires higher blade, lower
Angle 9. Work through gate height gate height
11. Lateral Pitch 0-2 deg Less blade More blade
7. Heels Depth Line of the pin out pitch at catch, pitch at catch,
more at finish less at finish
10. Blade Pitch 12. Stretcher 40-44 Same as 5 Same as 5
Angle deg
Span (3) in sculling is measured between pin cen-
tres at the bottom (because lateral pitch could affect it 2014 Dr. Valery Kleshnev www.biorow.com
Appendix 1 to Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter No 162 2014 September
Template for rigging records
Rower/Date
Variable
1 Oar Length (cm)
2 Inboard (cm)
3 Span (Sculling), or Spread (Sweep) (cm)
4 Overlap (cm)
5 Gate Height Port board (cm)
Star board (cm)
6 Difference of Gate Heights (sculling) (cm)
7 Heels Depth (cm)
8 Stretcher position (cm)
9 Work through (cm)
10 Blade Pitch (deg)
11 Lateral Pitch (deg)
12 Stretcher Angle (deg)

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